Federal Judge Doubles Down on Ruling About Transgenders in the US Military

After partially blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, a federal judge clarified on Monday that the military must allow transgender people to enlist beginning on Jan. 1, 2018.

Washington, D.C., District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the order after the Trump administration requested an extension of the Jan. 1 enlistment date, which was established under former President Barack Obama, the Independent Journal Review reported.

January 1 means January 1. That’s the date when the military can no longer deny transgender people from enlisting. https://t.co/48nbRcQJKo

When blocking Trump’s order in October, Kollar-Kotelly cited in her memo a “number of factors” that contributed to her decision.

“The court finds that a number of factors — including the sheer breadth of the exclusion ordered by the directives, the unusual circumstances surrounding the President’s announcement of them, the fact that the reasons given for them do not appear to be supported by any facts, and the recent rejection of those reasons by the military itself — strongly suggest that Plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment claim is meritorious,” the memo read.

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The ruling came after Trump issued an executive order in August requiring the military to cease the enlistment of transgender individuals and disallowing the funding of gender transition-related surgery.

At the time, Defense Secretary James Mattis was given a six-month deadline to assess the role of transgender troops who are currently serving in the U.S. military.

In tweets posted in July, the Trump detailed his reasoning for issuing his order.

After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……

Jennifer Levi, of the GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders said about Monday’s order, “This is an important clarification because it means the military can’t do an end run around the judge’s decision.”

GLAD and The National Center for Lesbian Rights represent the five transgender military service members who filed suit against the government in August, claiming that Trump’s order to ban transgender individuals from military service was unconstitutional and denied them equal rights and due process, NBC News reported.

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“I am honored to fight on behalf of courageous transgender Americans currently serving and those who wish to serve,” Levi wrote in a September blog post on GLAD.org.

“I am also incredibly proud to be taking on this fight at a time when the question is being called on whether America will remain a nation dedicated to its founding principles of liberty, justice and equality.”